Special report

Some Scientology terms

By Times Staff
Published June 25, 2006

Here is how Scientology defines some of the terms used in this story:

Suppressive person: "Those who are destructively antisocial. A person who possesses a distinct set of characteristics and mental attitudes that cause him to suppress other people in his vicinity. Or one who actively seeks to suppress or damage Scientology or a Scientologist."

Disconnection: "A self-determined decision made by an individual that he is not going to be connected to another. It is a severing of a communication line."

Auditing: Scientology counseling "which helps an individual look at his existence and improves his ability to confront what he is and where he is."

Potential Trouble Source: "A person who is in some way connected to and being adversely affected by a suppressive person." So called because "he can be a lot of trouble to himself and to others."

Sources: "Introduction to Scientology Ethics" and "What Is Scientology?"